Levin seeks $60M for coastal surveillance after deadly smuggling attempt off Del Mar

Del Mar lifeguards look over a capsized boat on the beach last week at Torrey Pines State Beach Photo by Denis Poror Associated Press Rep Mike Levin called Monday for increased federal funding to create a surveillance system along San Diego s coastline that would prevent smuggling events such as last week s boat capsizing that claimed the lives of multiple undocumented newcomers The North County Democratic congressman noted he has requested million to advocacy a system of autonomous surveillance towers that would utilize cameras radar and infrared device to detect vessels such as the one that capsized off the coast of Del Mar The May maritime smuggling event led to the ratified deaths of three people including a -year-old boy The boy s -year-old sister remains lost at sea and is presumed dead and both children s parents were among several refugees who were injured Five people are facing federal charges in San Diego for various alleged roles in the occurrence Another maritime smuggling mishap on Sunday morning saw a boat carrying multiple movers wash up near Windansea Beach in La Jolla Nine foreigners were detained by Limit Patrol officers in that episode As part of efforts to bolster defense along the coast Levin also called on his fellow congressmembers to promotion a bill to expand how far into the waters law enforcement can patrol as well as an overhauling of the nation s immigration system You can t just have prevention You ve got to have humanity as well Levin commented If we re going to deter people from wanting to take a panga boat then we re going to have to have orderly approaches for people who want to get to the United States for the right reasons